Bio

Prathamesh Premnath Chari is a dynamic and versatile percussionist from Varca, Salcette, Goa, celebrated for his rare and compelling ability to perform Tabla and Drum kit simultaneously. Carrying forward a proud musical lineage, he is the grandson of Tabla maestro Late Pt. Prabhakar Chari, nephew of internationally renowned Sitar virtuoso Pt. Ravi Chary, and the son of Kathak exponent Mrs. Smita Chari and Mr. Premnath Chari.

Initiated into music at a young age, Prathamesh began learning Tabla at the age of four and Drums by the age of ten. Over the years, he has developed a distinctive voice as a rhythm artist, seamlessly merging tradition with modernity. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science, Goa, and has completed his Master of Arts in Tabla from Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University.

He is a Sangeet Visharad in Tabla from the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai, and holds a Grade 8 certification in Drum Kit from Trinity College London. He is currently pursuing ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London) in Drum Kit.

Prathamesh continues to receive advanced training under renowned drummers Mr. Lester Godinho (Goa) and Mr. Gino Banks (Mumbai). His foundational training came from Mr. Joaquim Menezes, Mr. Glenn Pinto, and Mr. Assumption Nunes on drums. His Tabla journey has been shaped by Shri Shailesh Gaonkar, Late Pt. Maruti Kurdikar, and Shri Amit Bhonsale, with advanced mentorship under Shri Mayank Bedekar. He also studies Konakkol (the South Indian art of vocal percussion) under Pt. Ravi Chary.

Over the years, Prathamesh has had the honour of collaborating with a stellar list of renowned musicians from India and abroad, including:
Merlin D’Souza, Rhys Sebastian, Gino Banks, Ustad Fazal Qureshi, Hemaa Sardesai, Sivamani, Pt. Ulhas Velingkar, Pt. Ravi Chary, Sangeet Haldipur, Aditya Kalyanpur, Pt. Tulsidas Navelkar, Pt. Bhavani Shankar, Mohini Dey, Sheldon D'Silva, Atul Raninga, Jim Porto (Brazil), Shazneen Arethna, Pt. Kalinath Mishra, Mayank Bedekar, Nixon Soares, Aurvile Rodrigues, Shaan, Vivienne Pocha, Pt. Milind Raikar, Varun Carvalho, Pt. Shounak Abhisheki, Vivek Sonar, Chandana Bala, Ojas Adhiya, Pt. Ram Kumar Mishra, Shyam Edwankar, Dr. Rajesh Bhatkurse, Mukesh Ghatwal, Manas Kumar, Mark Revlon, Blasio Pinto, Heather Andrews, Indrajit "Tubby" Sharma, Nitin Shankar, and many others.

He has performed across major festivals and concert platforms both in India and internationally. His international performances include:

• UK Goa Festival 2017, Hounslow, United Kingdom

• Sunshine Music Festival 2017, Wales

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  
  

In India, he has performed at:

• Nakshatrotsav by Kala Academy, Goa

• Taal-Tarang, Shilpgram Utsav, Udaipur

• Brazilian Jazz Bazaar, The Quarter, Mumbai

• Kalayatan Festival, Gujarat

• Nrutyasandhya Kathak Concert, Goa

• Taal Tarang (Opening Ceremony of Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali)

• Bal Sammelan by Bal Bhavan, Goa

• Pt. Prabhakar Chari Pratishthan Sangeet Samaroh

• Indo-Jazz Fusion Concert & Ravi Chary Crossing album launch

• Pu. La. Kala Mahotsav, Mumbai

• Serendipity Arts Festival 2025

• World Konkani Music Awards 2020

• Goa Food & Cultural Festival (2017–2019)

• International Film Festival of India (IFFI)

• Chitrashatabdi Festival, IFFI Goa

• Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, Mumbai

• Rock in Goa, Bike Festival

• The Grape Escapade, Goa

• Nobel Prize Series – Goa

• Jowai Festival, Meghalaya

• Guitar and Hammer Gods, Goa

• Resonance Fusion Concert, Mapusa

His discography includes:

• “The Enemy Within” – Recorded Tabla & Percussion with the rock band Bad Blood at the iconic
  Abbey Road Studios, London (among the first Goans to do so)

• “Tomorrow’s Yesterday” – Full-length album with Bad Blood, released at UK Goa Day Festival,
  Hounslow

• “Fusion in Raag Shree” – Collaboration with Pt. Ravi Chary, released on all major streaming platforms

• Featured on Mathrubhumi Kappa TV, Malayalam music channel
  With roots firmly planted in the classical tradition and an artistic vision that embraces experimentation and global rhythms, Prathamesh Chari represents a new generation of Indian percussionists—bridging the worlds of tradition and innovation, with authenticity and flair.